Chapter 13

< Chapter 13: Sprouting... or Cancer? (6) >

Chapter 13: Sprouting... or Cancer? (6)

From the time she could speak and read, Hyang showed a unique demeanor. From then on, she treated King Sejong and his wife with utmost respect. Her etiquette was so impeccable that it even worried King Sejong and his wife.

"This child treats us as if we are strangers, even though we are her parents."

"I felt the same. She seems to have drawn an invisible line and is firmly keeping it. Is her intelligence too excessive..."

The only person she was close to, despite putting up such a wall, was Princess Jeongso.

"My older sister has an extremely strong charisma..."

Hyang would always burst into laughter when she thought of her sister. As the eldest legitimate daughter of King Sejong and Queen Soheon, Princess Jeongso was bright and clever, and was adored by all the royal family, starting from King Taejong and his wife. In 21st-century terms, she was the 'nuclear influencer.'

After Queen Soheon left the tea session, King Sejong turned to the court officials.

"Leave for a moment. I want to be alone."

"...Yes, Your Majesty."

Once the court officials left, King Sejong muttered to himself.

"Should I let her leave on her own, or should I make her leave? No... should I end this gracefully, or will there be blood?"

King Sejong's low voice was filled with menace.

"The current court is filled only with my father's officials. I need my own officials. My own officials who will listen only to me..."

* * *

After the imperial edict from Emperor Yingzong arrived and King Sejon's decision was made, the Ministry of Personnel began preparing to present the gold thread to Emperor Yingzong.

However, a serious problem arose during the preparation: the production capacity of the merchant guild responsible for supplying the gold thread was insufficient to meet the deadline before the envoy departed.

Due to the report that the production schedule itself would be a problem, King Sejong summoned the court officials and Hyang. Upon hearing the story, Hyang looked at King Sejong.

"Father, I think we need to know more details. What about bringing in the head merchant?"

"It is not permissible! How can we bring a lowly merchant to a place where we decide important state affairs!"

As soon as Hyang's words were spoken, the Chief Secretary of the Office of Special Advisors (대사간) declared it impossible.

King Sejong glared at the Chief Secretary.

"Do you have a solution, then?"

"..."

"Your duty is to advise, and I do not disregard your advice. However, I wish you understood the timing better."

"Your Majesty, I am at fault."

King Sejong, silencing the Chief Secretary, issued an order.

"Bring the head merchant here."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

A short while later, the head merchant, summoned to King Sejong's tent, prostrated himself.

"A lowly merchant greets the king, who is like the heavens."

"The Crown Prince has some questions for you. Answer them honestly."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Ask your questions, Crown Prince."

"Yes, Crown Prince. How is the gold thread made? Is it made from start to finish by one person?"

"Yes, Crown Prince."

"Hmm?"

After a moment's thought, Hyang looked at King Sejong.

"I think we should talk to the artisans from the merchant guild. There might be a solution."

"Is that so? Then we should bring the artisans here."

As soon as King Sejong spoke, the Chief Secretary of the Office of Special Advisors (대사간) interjected.

"Your Majesty! It is not permissible! Bringing in merchants is already a problem, but bringing in artisans to the sacred palace is absolutely unacceptable! Please understand!"

King Sejong replied firmly.

"If it concerns the state's interests, even a farmer can be summoned! Chief Secretary, hold your tongue!"

"Your Majesty!"

"Hold your tongue! Otherwise, I will have to reconsider your loyalty!"

The Chief Secretary fell silent at King Sejong's rebuke. The atmosphere in the court, which had become tense due to King Sejong's stern words, left the head merchant prostrate, only breathing.

"Head merchant, go immediately and bring the artisans here."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Having experienced the intense atmosphere, the head merchant quickly returned to the palace with the artisans.

'Wow! In this Joseon era, known for its slow pace, they really moved fast! Indeed, when in crisis, they act quickly!'

Hyang, who had been frustrated by the slow pace of the Joseon era, was satisfied with the head merchant's swift action.

What Hyang taught the artisans was the concept of 'division of labor,' which is very basic to modern people, and the concept of rolling (압연).

"What do you think?"

In response to Hyang's question, the head of the artisans stroked his chin and answered.

"I believe it has sufficient value. It will take time to get used to, but once we do, we can produce more than we do now."

Hearing the head artisan's answer, Hyang looked at King Sejong.

"Father, the head artisan says it is possible."

"Is that so? I expect you to bring good news."

"I will follow Your Majesty's command!"

The artisans, upon receiving King Sejong's order, all prostrated themselves on the ground in response.

Five days later, the head merchant came to the Ministry of Personnel with the artisans' answer.

"The deadline can be met."

"Is that so? What about the quality?"

"The quality is also guaranteed."

"Good job!"

The Minister of Personnel praised the head merchant and immediately reported to King Sejong. The faces of King Sejong and the court officials brightened at the report. King Sejong, tapping his fingers on the desk, looked at Hyang.

"Dividing the work and distributing it actually increases efficiency... How did the Crown Prince come up with such a brilliant idea?"

"I once visited the royal kitchen (수라간) and saw the skilled workers and servants dividing tasks according to the orders of the head skilled worker. I recalled that memory and thought about it."

"You are truly an extraordinary child!"

King Sejong was greatly impressed by Hyang's answer.

"To find a brilliant method in something others overlook is not ordinary! What do you think, ministers?"

"Truly remarkable!"

Most of the ministers nodded in agreement and echoed the praise. However, there were always those who did not consider the time and place.

"The Crown Prince's cleverness is something to celebrate, but focusing too much on trivial matters is a problem. Using that cleverness to study the teachings of the sages and understand them is the right path."

King Sejong's face turned stern at the Chief Secretary's words.

"You should visit the physician immediately and have your eyes checked. How can you not see properly? You said the Crown Prince focuses only on trivial matters? How can it be trivial to not overlook what ordinary people would and to repeatedly ponder and clarify the principles? The ancient sages also pondered to bring peace and prosperity to the nation. How can you be so narrow-minded?"

The Chief Secretary hurried to defend himself at King Sejong's rebuke.

"I did not mean that... "

"Did not mean that? Are you continuing the absurd claims that the former kings and I lack legitimacy?"

"I have never had such wicked and disloyal thoughts, Your Majesty!"

"Indeed?"

"Please understand, Your Majesty!"

The court session ended with this commotion. As the session was about to end, the historian wrote in the court records:

-The Chief Secretary's remarks were indeed narrow-minded, but the king's pressure was also inappropriate. It is natural for a parent to boast about their child's excellence, but using authority to pressure those who do not respond is not befitting of a ruler.

* * *

Ignoring the critical remarks in the court records, King Sejong continued to command the ministers to proceed with the work. Of course, Hyang often had to respond to King Sejong's summons, acting as a seasoning.

King Sejong would call Hyang when he needed to discuss something. Hyang always gave her best answers when summoned, and those answers always satisfied King Sejong. After completing one task and returning to her room, Hyang always grumbled.

"No matter how I look at it, it seems I dug my own grave. I just wanted to stand out a little earlier..."

While King Sejong was satisfied, Hyang regretted it, and the ministers sighed, looking up at the sky.

"Ah! I want to resign!"

"Why are they like that!"

More aggressive individuals would find a secluded place and bite their sleeves, shouting inwardly.

"Father and son, both the same!"

Every time Hyang gave an answer that satisfied King Sejong, the ministers had more work to do.

* * *

After explaining the concept of 'division of labor' and returning, Hyang let out a small sigh.

"Phew~. That was close."

The best solution to the merchant guild's schedule problem was 'division of labor.' While the head merchant was bringing the artisans, Hyang thought hard.

-They will definitely ask about the reason for thinking of division of labor. I can't say, 'I learned it in my past life.'

-I need to find the most appropriate example of division of labor.

The most appropriate example that came to mind was the 'division of labor in the royal kitchen.'

"That was a close call."

Evaluating her own performance, Hyang smacked her lips.

"Come to think of it... the concept of division of labor didn't exist until this period..."

Thinking about 'division of labor,' the voice of Mr. Samcheonpo came to Hyang's mind.

-Even before Adam Smith talked about 'division of labor,' it must have naturally occurred. However, it was when 'absolute monarchy' and 'mercantilism' were linked that division of labor was formally applied to industry.

"Absolute monarchy..."

Hyang focused on the word 'absolute monarchy.' Mr. Samcheonpo had connected absolute monarchy with Joseon and said:

-What about Joseon? It is nominally an absolute monarchy, but if you look at history closely, it can be seen as a power struggle between rulers who desire absolute monarchy and ministers who dream of a republic.

"After that, he said not to be happy about the word 'republic.' The republic we know needs the two characters 'democracy' to be complete. The republic that Joseon's ministers hoped for was a republic where the king is weak and the ministers are strong."

Hyang, pondering her past life's memories, held her head.

"First, to make my life easier now and in the future, what should I do?"

After much deliberation, Hyang finally came to a conclusion.

"Rome wasn't built in a day. I will achieve things step by step. First, I should start with what my father strongly desires... the strengthening of royal power."

Hyang looked towards the main hall.

"The king's control must extend firmly to the closed societies in the regions. For that, what is needed is... capital."

* * *

With the plan to strengthen royal power by increasing capital, Hyang went to see King Sejong.

"Father, I believe there is something the chief envoy must do regarding this mission and trade."

"Tell me."

"The chief envoy must obtain a specific confirmation from the emperor."

"Specific confirmation?"

"Yes, first, we must secure the exclusive right (독점권) to sell the gold thread to the Ming. From the emperor's request for the gold thread, we can see that the reaction to it is very positive. The Ming is a country several times larger than our Joseon. Therefore, the demand for gold thread will also be several times greater, as I mentioned before."

"That's right."

"However, there will be merchants in the Ming. Will they just let this pass? They will certainly try to replicate and sell the gold thread. We must prevent this."

After a moment's thought, King Sejong nodded at Hyang's point.

"The Crown Prince's opinion is reasonable."

"But, if we do it wrong, it might offend His Majesty the Emperor..."

As a court official from the Ministry of Rites (예조판서) was about to raise a counterargument, King Sejong cut him off.

"Are you a minister of this Joseon, or a minister of the Ming?"

"Your Majesty, I am at fault!"

At King Sejong's rebuke, the official prostrated himself. Hyang, glancing at the official, continued. The second point was a major bomb that shook the court.

< Chapter 13: Sprouting... or Cancer? (6) > End

© National Pride

=======================================